This open access book brings together current childhood research and contemporary ethical theory to draw attention to how children depend upon a scope of action for risky play for their mental and physical development. In many countries, the opportunities for children to play away from adults' close attention have decreased. At both school and home, protection and avoidance of harm take increasing priority. This book draws a distinction between do-good ethics and avoid-harm ethics to highlight ethical tensions and dilemmas encountered by professionals who work with children, and suggests better ways to balance these ethical dimensions in approaching risky play.
Author(s): Øyvind Kvalnes, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter
Series: Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 114
City: Cham
Advance Praise
Acknowledgements
Contents
Chapter 1: Risky Play and Ethics
The Authors
Childhood in Change
The Structure of the Book
Risky Play (Part I)
Ethics and Risk (Part II)
References
Part I: Risky Play
Chapter 2: Risky Play, Then and Now
Everybody Plays
Risky Play
Children’s Assessment and Risk Management
Changes in Conditions for Risky Play
Why Are We More Worried Now Than Earlier?
The Perception of Risk Has Changed
Are There More Child Injuries Now Than Earlier?
Poor and Unattractive Play Environments
Summary
References
Chapter 3: Experiences, Mastery, and Development Through Risk
Joy and Good Experiences
Life Mastery
Physical Development and Motor Competence
Prevention of Anxiety
Risk Management
To Prove the Absence of Anything That Could Have Been
Summary
References
Chapter 4: Negative Consequences of Protection
The Ethical Dilemma of Proving Negative Effects
Lack of Development and Risk Management
Mental Problems
The Effect of Being Overprotected
Summary
References
Part II: Ethics and Risk
Chapter 5: Doing Good and Avoiding Harm
Two Ethical Perspectives
Protected Children
Risk Ethics
Long-Term Ethics
Summary
References
Chapter 6: Ethical Navigation
The Principle of Equality
The Principle of Publicity
The Good and the Right
The Navigation Wheel
Ethical Pre- and Post-work
Summary
References
Chapter 7: Moral Luck
Morality and Luck
Moral Protection
Agent Regret
Summary
References
Chapter 8: Ways Forward
References
